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Gala (apple)

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The Gala is a very popular type of apple.

Südtiroler Apfel g.g.A Gala
Südtiroler Apfel g.g.A Gala

People love it because it has a sweet and mild flavor. The texture is crisp but it does not feel too hard when you bite it. Most Gala apples have orange or reddish stripes on their skin. Inside, the flesh is a creamy white color. It is also very aromatic, which means it has a nice smell. You can eat these apples raw, or you can cook them to make sauces.

Royal Gala apples - whole and halved
Royal Gala apples - whole and halved

Growing these apples is a simple task for many farmers. Because they are easy to grow, the Gala is a top choice for commercial orchards. Many different types of Gala have been found through a process called mutation. These are often called "sports." For example, the Royal Gala is a popular sport that has more red color.

Royal Gala apples - whole and halved
Royal Gala apples - whole and halved

Some growers even have patents for these special versions. There are more than twenty of these patented sports in the United States. They might have different colors or ripen at different times of the year.

This apple has a very interesting history that began in New Zealand. In the 1930s, an orchardist named J.H. Kidd worked in Greytown. He made the first Gala tree by crossing two other apples. He used the Golden Delicious and the Kidd's Orange Red to create it. The tree was selected in 1939 and introduced to the world in 1960. Later, in 1974, Donald W. McKenzie obtained a plant patent for the variety in the United States. This helped the apple spread to many other places.

Today, the Gala is a huge success in many countries. In the United States, it is the most produced apple variety. In 2018, it even became more common than the Red Delicious apple. That was the first time in over 50 years that another apple beat the Red Delicious. By 2024, the Gala made up 17% of all apple sales in the U.S. Most American Gala apples are grown in Washington, Michigan, and New York.

US Apple Production 5-yr Average (2021-25)
US Apple Production 5-yr Average (2021-25)

In Canada, they are also very common in Ontario and British Columbia.

Even though apples usually have a short season, you can find Galas almost all year. This is possible because of cold storage and controlled atmosphere storage. These methods keep the fruit fresh for a long time. In the United Kingdom, the season starts in late summer. In Australia, people can find them starting in late January. In the United States, many are harvested from May through September. This means that no matter when you want a sweet snack, a Gala might be ready for you.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:US Apple Production 5-yr Average (2021-25).png
US Apple Production 5-yr Average (2021-25).png
File:Südtiroler Apfel g.g.A Gala.jpg
Südtiroler Apfel g.g.A Gala.jpg
File:Royal Gala apples - whole and halved.jpg
Royal Gala apples - whole and halved.jpg
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